Body in Free Fall moves in Parabolic Path/Historical Note
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Historical Note on Body in Free Fall moves in Parabolic Path
According to tradition, Body in Free Fall moves in Parabolic Path was noted by Galileo Galilei by observation and reasoning.
However, it appears that in fact it was his pupil Bonaventura Francesco Cavalieri who first published it.
Because it upset Galileo to have had his pupil take that last step, Cavalieri agreed that the result should be accredited to Galileo himself, and so offered to withdraw his own publication.
It was confirmed mathematically by Isaac Newton by application of his laws of motion.
Sources
- 1992: George F. Simmons: Calculus Gems ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {A}.14$: Cavalieri ($\text {1598}$ – $\text {1647}$)
- 1966: Isaac Asimov: Understanding Physics ... (previous) ... (next): $\text {I}$: Motion, Sound and Heat: Chapter $4$: Gravitation: Combination of Forces
- 2008: Ian Stewart: Taming the Infinite ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $8$: The System of the World: Galileo